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What was the first iPhone? Did he have a camera? How many versions of the iPhone are there? We'll answer these questions and more.
The evolution of iPhones, what was the first iPhone to be launched? When was the first iPhone released? We have the full iPhone story here. This article will cover the evolution of iPhone models over the years and discuss the notable changes made with each release. Apple has released a total of 29 iPhones over the years, including the latest iPhone 12 lineup and the iPhone SE (second generation). Here's a complete look at each evolution of the iPhone, starting when Steve Jobs revealed the original iPhone in 2007.
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iPhone: June 29, 2007
Can you believe that 16GB is all you could fit into the original iPhone? True, there still wasn't that much data to put on the iPhone and certainly no App Store. But you had access to the internet on a screen where you could actually see it, unlike the flip and slider phones of the time. And it could only handle 128 MB of memory. The camera was 2.0 megapixels – so terrible. But a phone with a camera! Oh my God!
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iPhone 3G: July 11, 2008
As far as internal specifications go, the iPhone 3G wasn't much different from the original iPhone. But now there was an App Store! This iPhone gets its nickname from its 3G connectivity, which means internet access that you can actually use without wanting to throw your iPhone across the room.
iPhone 3GS: June 19, 2009
Apple introduced a 32GB storage option with the iPhone 3GS, doubling it from the first iPhone. Clearly, introducing the App Store changed things quickly. Between photos, music and apps, 16 GB simply wouldn't cut it. The camera has been upgraded to 3 MP and added video recording. Apple also added Voice Control, although we'll have to wait a few more years before Siri is released.
iPhone 4: June 24, 2010
Now we're getting somewhere. The iPhone 4 was the first iPhone to have a front camera. Little did Apple know, selfies would take over the world. The iPhone 4 also has a Retina display. With 512 MB of memory, it's equipped to handle much more than even the iPhone 3GS, which only had 256 MB of memory. You can see that the technology was starting to look a little more familiar, but 32GB was still the maximum amount of storage the iPhone could hold.
iPhone 4S: October 14, 2011
Talk about a huge difference between the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S: the camera went from 5 MP to a whopping 8 MP. Now this is an update. Apple also introduced 64GB storage option but kept the memory at 512MB. The video can then be recorded in 1080p. Oh, I can't forget— hello, Siri! Apple sold four million iPhone 4S units in its first week.
iPhone 5: September 21, 2012
Apple sold 5 million iPhone 5 units in its first week. The camera remained the same, but the memory was increased to 1 GB. Did you think 3G was cool? Psh, the iPhone 5 had LTE connectivity. Hello, internet everywhere! Apple also introduced the Lightning connector with the iPhone 5. And for the first time, the screen got bigger! The screens of all previous generations were 3.5 inches, but the iPhone 5 was 4 inches.
iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c: September 20, 2013
Between the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c, Apple sold nine million units in the first week of sales. The iPhone 5c was made to be a little more affordable and had a plastic casing. It was available in four different colors, but nothing else was different. The iPhone 5s, on the other hand, introduced Touch ID, dual flash, and slow-motion video. Additionally, it included the M7 motion coprocessor, which opened up a new realm of possibilities and also helped save battery life.
iPhone 6 and 6 Plus: September 19, 2014
Apple tends to make bigger leaps between the original model and the S edition than from the S edition to a new model. The internal specifications of the iPhone 6 were very similar to the iPhone 5s. The biggest difference was having a significantly larger screen and offering an even larger size called the 6 Plus. The Retina display became HD and the option to get an iPhone with 128GB of storage became available. But the amount of memory was the same, and the camera didn't see a megapixel upgrade. But it didn't matter – Apple sold 10 million units in the first week.
iPhone 6s and 6s Plus: September 19, 2015
The 6s changed everything. Well, not everything, it basically looked the same. But inside, Apple has greatly updated the iPhone 6s. The camera took a big leap from 8 MP to 12 MP. Memory has also been doubled from 1GB to 2GB. After the iPhone 6 had some bending issues (#bendgate), Apple gave the iPhone 6s 7000 series aluminum to ensure this never happened again. Last but not least, 3D Touch was introduced.
iPhone SE: March 31, 2016
Don't think I forgot about the iPhone SE. It had all the incredible internal specs of the iPhone 6s in a small, 3D Touch-free package. But overall, the iPhone SE was presented as a more affordable option that people really loved.
iPhone 7 and 7 Plus: September 16, 2016
Apple has finally ditched the 16GB base model option, with base iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus models starting at 32GB of storage and going up to 256GB. Apple also released a new glossy black color. The iPhone 7 Plus proved to be more popular than previous Plus models due to its new dual camera, which enabled a significantly improved zoom feature, and Portrait mode, a software update that allows iPhone 7 Plus users to take stunning photos using Depth of Field. Perhaps the most controversial feature of the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus was the one Apple removed: the headphone jack. The new iPhones shipped with EarPods that connected to the Lightning port and an adapter for traditional headphones. Apple launched its wireless AirPods at the same event it announced it was eliminating the headphone jack.
iPhone 8 and 8 Plus: September 22, 2017
The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus introduced us to wireless charging with the glass cover on the back of the iPhone. The camera was amazing, with updated tools for editing and filtering our images. The true-tone display improves the viewing experience by automatically reducing exposure to blue light. Users eventually (mostly) got used to not having a headphone jack and started adapting to the wireless lifestyle.
iPhone X: November 3, 2017
Speaking of amazing cameras, the iPhone X included an extra front camera that allows us to take amazing selfies in Portrait mode. Sure, other iPhones let us take cool photos, but the iPhone X included Portrait mode for the front camera, and we fell in love with it the first time we opened it.
iPhone XS and XS Max: September 21, 2018
Skipping the iPhone 9, Apple announced the XS and XS Max at its September 2018 event at the Steve Jobs Theater. These models were well named, as they were definitive upgrades along the lines of the iPhone X. Both models had the front camera for Portrait mode selfies. The screens were edge to edge and everything looked great with the Super Retina HD display. The biggest update may be the smallest; the A12 bionic chip has increased processing power while decreasing battery consumption.
iPhone XR: October 26, 2018
The iPhone XR was also announced at the September 2018 event, but was not immediately available. As it is the cheapest of the new models, some people decided to wait for the XR to be released. These iPhones were smaller than the XS and XS Max (but still larger than the 7 and 8 Plus). The screen wasn't as sharp as the XS and XS Max, but with the Liquid Retina HD display, the difference wasn't too noticeable. This model also had the front camera and came in many more colors than the XS or XS Max.
iPhone 11: September 20, 2019
The iPhone 11 is the cheapest in Apple's annual lineup, but it still has enough new features to compete for the most popular iPhone of 2019. The device has a 6.1-inch Liquid Retina display and comes in six crisp colors. The most interesting addition might be the second camera on the back of the 11, both 12 MP and offering wide and ultra-wide lenses.
iPhone 11 Pro: September 20, 2019
For Apple customers looking for a smaller phone with a top-of-the-line display, the iPhone 11 Pro is for you. The 5.8-inch Super Retina XDR display is Apple's sharpest and clearest to date. This phone has not two, but three 12MP HDR camera lenses, offering wide, ultrawide, and telephoto lenses. The color options are more discreet than on the iPhone 11, but there's always the option of adding an eye-catching case!
iPhone 11 Pro Max: September 20, 2019
Apple's biggest and most expensive phone in 2019 is the iPhone 11 Pro Max. The screen is Apple's Super Retina XDR, as with the 11 Pro, but at 6.5 inches. The Pro Max has the same three-lens camera setup as the 11 Pro, as well as the same color options, making size almost the only difference between the devices.
iPhone SE (second generation): April 24, 2020
The 2020 iPhone SE is the second of its kind and is loved by those who prefer smaller iPhones. Apple takes some cues from the past with this retro iPhone. The 4.7-inch Retina HD display and Home button with Touch ID hark back to the original iPhone SE at an equally low price. The second-generation SE offers many of the features of Apple's more expensive iPhones, including an A13 Bionic chip, advanced camera system with Portrait mode and Depth Control, high-definition video, wireless charging capability, and long battery life.
iPhone 12 mini: November 13, 2020
The iPhone 12 mini is a surprisingly small but still very powerful addition to the iPhone family. This thin and incredibly light smartphone measures just 5.4 inches and includes the powerful new A14 Bionic chip for a considerable increase in performance over previous models. It also has Apple's latest Super Retina XDR OLED display and a host of camera upgrades, but it still comes with a dual-lens arrangement. The only notable differences between the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 are that the mini is smaller and has an estimated battery life that is 2 hours less than the larger iPhone 12.
iPhone 12: October 23, 2020
The 6.1-inch iPhone 12 has exactly the same features, camera specs, and processing capabilities as the 12 mini, except it's estimated to have 17 hours of video playback compared to the iPhone 12 mini's 15 hours. This mid-range model also includes the dual-lens camera, which is good enough for regular users. However, Apple has included some impressive upgrades in its high-end iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max phones for those who chose their iPhones for their camera capabilities,
iPhone 12 Pro: October 23, 2020
The iPhone 12 Pro features some camera and color updates very sophisticated compared to the 12 and 12 mini, but it comes in the same 6.1-inch screen size as the iPhone 12 and includes all the basic features present in the budget models. New camera features introduced in 2020 include a triple-lens arrangement like we saw on the iPhone 11 Pro models, but with LiDAR scanning, improved night mode, and improved zoom range and lens functions. Both iPhone 12 Pro models include the fastest opening ever on an iPhone. Apple added RAW photos for superior professional editing capability and included Dolby Vision at up to 60 frames per second in professional models.
iPhone 12 Pro Max: November 13, 2020
The iPhone 12 Pro Max has all the benefits of the 12 Pro, but with some updates and a considerable difference in size. The 6.7-inch Pro Max claims an 87 percent improvement in how it performs in low light over the iPhone 11 models and has 5x zoom, which is a big deal for those who use their iPhones for professional photography projects or almost professional. The most striking feature of this iPhone is the screen size.
Future generations of iPhone
As you can see, the iPhone has gone through a lot of changes, from a 16GB browser to a 512GB all-in-one camera, workspace, and entertainment center. We loved learning about the history of the iPhone and hope you do too! Be sure to check back and stay up to date with all the latest models as the iPhone continues to evolve and grow.
The evolution of iPhones:
1. How many versions of the iPhone are there?
As of early 2021, there are a total of 12 iPhone series, and most releases include multiple models. In total, there have been 29 different iPhone models so far, including the iPhone 12 lineup that launched in late 2020.
2. The evolution of the iPhone camera
Did the first iPhone have a camera? Absolutely, although it wasn't especially powerful or clear. Still, it was better than a disposable camera! The first iPhone also gave users access to just 16GB of storage at the maximum and 4GB at the low end. You can imagine?
The cameras built into iPhones have always been a big draw for the devices, and Apple has shown the company's drive to continue improving iPhone cameras with each release. Nowadays, you can enjoy Incredible detail and professional-grade finish just with the default camera and photo editing options included on your iPhone!
3. When should I update my iPhone?
For the most part, upgrading your iPhone is a personal decision. Most users make their choice based on their need for more storage space, their need for newer features or the ability to use current software, and the availability of great price incentives for upgrading or switching phone service providers. If you're asking “when can I upgrade my iPhone,” that's something you'll need to check through your current provider based on their upgrade eligibility rules.
4. How many iPhones does Apple release each year?
In the beginning, Apple released one iPhone per year. This gradually changed as new model launches got closer and closer from 2010 to 2013. With the September launch, however, Apple released the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c, ushering in an era of two iPhone launches per year. . In 2017, 2018 and 2019 each saw the launch of three more iPhone models, and in 2020 the tech giant shocked the world. Not only did they launch the iPhone SE (second generation) in April, they also launched four other iPhones in their delayed fall announcement, rounding out their current collection with the iPhone 12 lineup.
5. Why did Apple ignore some iPhone numbers?
Did you know that there is no iPhone 2? After Apple created the first generation iPhone, what came after was all about 3G Internet connectivity, so the iPhone 2 was ignored. Why wasn't there an iPhone 9? Well, Apple skipped that too and went straight to the iPhone X , a decision made based on its launch in the tenth year after the launch of the first iPhone. Apple is known for doing things the company's way, so frankly, we're not surprised.
Image credits: Youtube / Greg Wyatt
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